SunnySideUp

How do you know if it should be replaced?

Aside from 'look for smoothness and no noise' .... anything else?

And, as a non-Subaru part is £75 and the Subaru part is £150 .... what do you reckon? It is a vital part, after all?

MaDaSS

I had the OEM part fitted and would again. I have spent enough that i am not trying anything cheaper just to save a few quid. But that is just IMHO.
When mine was done there was a very slight leak from it, i would not take the chance that it would fail so changed it. Same next time around, if it shows any signs it 'could' fail i would spend the money.

dj219957

does the piston leak, no
does it make noise, no
is there any play in idler, no
does it look fooked, no

....leave it be


if you do change it dont bother with a non subaru one, it wont last (apparetly).

SunnySideUp

Thanks for the feedback .... a Subaru part it shall be, if needed.

ZEN Performance

you will only really know when you go to compress it. You shouldn't be able to compress it other than in a vice (very slowly, don't force it), so for instance putting all your weight on the piston rod shouldn't cause it to move (when they are totally wrecked you can), and once fitted you shouldn't be able to grab the pulley up (sometimes the act of compressing it will take it over the edge.

The main thing is to compress them very slowly, if using a vice it takes about 3-4 minutes, you can feel as the tensior gives very slightly as you compress it, don't force it beyond what it "wants" to do. Very hard to explain if you've not done a few.

merlin24

iTrader: (1)

Measure the distance the rod protrudes above the body first,
2 Bolt tensioner : 15.5 -> 16.5 mm
Later 1 bolt tensioner : 5.7mm +/- 0.5 mm.
If the tensioner rod length is within spec, then compress the rod exactly as Paul said above.

Mick